As Italy approaches the 80th anniversary of the 1946 institutional referendum, the Presidency of the Republic is inviting citizens to share what the Republic means to them.
The Quirinale Palace has launched a nationwide digital initiative to mark one of the most significant milestones in modern Italian history: the 80th anniversary of the referendum of 2 June 1946. On that date, Italians voted to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic. The vote also brought the election of the Constituent Assembly and, for the first time, gave Italian women the right to vote at national level.
Under the banner I Volti della Repubblica (“The Faces of the Republic”), the campaign invites all citizens to film a short video on their mobile phones completing the phrase: “For me, the Republic is…” Videos can be submitted via the dedicated website, www.ivoltidellarepubblica.quirinale.it, and will form part of a growing public archive marking the occasion.
Contribute to the campaign
The initiative opens with a statement from President Sergio Mattarella: “The Republic is us. Each and every one of us.”
More than a hundred videos have already been published on the site, with contributions ranging from ordinary citizens across Italy’s regions to well-known public figures. Actor Claudio Bisio, speaking from Milan, reflected on Article 1 of the Constitution: “The Italian Republic is founded on work — understood also as the effort to build the Republic. We are the ones who build it day by day.” Comedian Checco Zalone offered a characteristically direct response from Bari: “For me, the Republic is freedom — and when you are free, you feel like a king.” Tennis champion Jasmine Paolini, from Bagni di Lucca, framed it in sporting terms: remaining “united as a team, with commitment and dedication.”
Among the early contributors are many children. “For me, the Republic means everyone being equal and having the same rights,” said Bianca from Cosenza. “For me, the Republic means being loved,” added Samuele from Brussels.
The Quirinale has described the campaign as an opportunity for reflection, particularly for younger generations, on the meaning of the republican choice and the history of post-war Italy. In the June 1946 referendum, more than 12 million Italians voted in favour of the republic, simultaneously electing the assembly that would draft a new Constitution, which came into force on 1 January 1948.
The formal celebrations for the 80th anniversary take place on 2 June 2026.
Citizens wishing to contribute a video can do so at www.ivoltidellarepubblica.quirinale.it.
